The League of Women Voters was established in 1920, the result of the consolidation of the National Council of Women Voters and the National American Suffrage Association, to advocate for women's suffrage and the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment that would provide women the right to vote. As such, their vision has remained the same since 1920:

"We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy." 

Following the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the League shifted focus to educating and informing new voters on election and legislative processes, as well as advocating for progressive policies. In the League's early days, they advocated for the establishment of the United Nations, lobbied for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, and sponsored the televised 1980 - 1984 Presidential Debates. They also organized much of the movement surrounding the passage of the National Voter Registration Act  of 1993 and helped draft and pass the Help America Vote Act in 2002. They continue to work on issues of voter registration, election transparency, fair districting, access to the ballot, accurate Census survey and data reporting. They continue to advocate for other progressive policies, like healthcare reform, environmental conservation and climate change mitigation, and immigration reform. 

Archival Materials

The David A. Marcus Letters include a series of letters written to and by Ruth J. Hinerfeld of the League of Women Voters where Marcus has proposed that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee establish a worldwide antinuclear movement (Box-Folder 1.2). The Charles Leon Robinson Photograph Album also includes photographs of a group of women's suffrage supporters.

In addition, there are a number of rare books that document the advocacy and work of the League of Women Voters and their predecessor organizations. 

• Brief History of the League of Women Voters of Oregon by Elizabeth Ducey
• Path Breaking; An Autobiographical History of the Equal Suffrage Movement in Pacific Coast States by Abigail Scott Duniway
• A Political Primer for the New Voter by Bessie Beatty

Finally, the League of Women Voters maintains a website that includes their current pursuits and a detailed history of the organization. It can be found at www.lwv.org.